Air conditioning innovation a stone cold winner

A new air conditioning technology developed by Fremantle company, HIVAP Pty Ltd, has won the 2012 Mitsubishi Corporation Emerging Innovation Category at the WA Innovator of the Year Awards.

  • Fremantle company HIVAP Pty Ltd wins at WA Innovator of the Year Awards
  • Innovation is low-cost, low energy evaporative air conditioning technology

  • WA Innovator of the Year Awards overall prize pool of $190,000

A new air conditioning technology developed by Fremantle company, HIVAP Pty Ltd, has won the 2012 Mitsubishi Corporation Emerging Innovation Category at the WA Innovator of the Year Awards.

Science and Innovation Minister John Day said the HIVAP Air Conditioning System had the potential to be a smaller, more cost-effective and cleaner alternative to conventional systems.   

"HIVAP's new approach to evaporation has enabled its inventors to develop an air conditioning system that uses one-fifteenth the energy of refrigerated systems," Mr Day said.

"A technology like this has the potential to offer a new solution for cooling our homes.  Given Western Australia's hot climate and propensity for bushfires, the judges of the WA Innovator of the Year Awards saw the potential for this innovation to directly benefit the community and this prize will assist HIVAP Pty Ltd to further develop their prototype."

The Minister said the WA Innovator of the Year Awards was just one of the ways the State Government was encouraging innovation to flourish in WA.   

"Successful innovation brings with it the opportunity for continued social and economic growth," he said. 

"This process improves the links between industry, government, research and entrepreneurial networks so that pathways to commercialisation are clear, ensuring barriers are minimised and West Australians reap the benefits of new products and services.

"A recent survey of past winners suggests that participants achieve a greater proportion of commercialisation success through the support they receive through this program.  I congratulate all award winners and wish them success in further developing their innovations."

      Fact File

  • Awards administered by Department of Commerce with support from Mitsubishi Corporation (Principal Sponsor); iiNet and Woodside (Encouragement Award Sponsors); Watermark, IBM and AusIndustry (Gold Sponsors); and WRAYS and WA Business News (Silver Sponsors)

  • Emerging Innovation Category: open to WA applicants with an ABN or ACN with product or service developed from an idea; can clearly define the market need or problem it solves; and have some form of IP protection or rapid route to market

  • More info at: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/scienceinnovation/innovator  

Minister's office - 6552 6200